Locking means for the sideboards of a truck platform

ABSTRACT

IN ORDER TO DETACHABLY CONNECT TUBULAR POSTS TO THE EDGE PORTION OF A TRUCK PLATFORM THE LATTER AT APPROPRIATE PORTIONS IN PROVIDED WITH VERTICALLY SPACED STRAPS AND GUDGEONS, RESPECTIVELY. THE POST IS, AT ITS LOWER END, PROVIDED WITH A JOURNAL BODY ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH THE GUDGEON, AND WHEN THE POST IS PLACED THEREON AND SWUNG TOWARDS THE PLATFORM, THE STRIP WILL ENTER AN OPENING ARRANGED IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE POST INTENDED TO BE TURNED TOWARDS THE PLATFORM. A VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE BOLT IS LOCATED IN THE POST ABOVE THE OPENING AND IS CONNECTED TO OPERATING MEANS DESIGNED TO BRING THE BOLT INTO LOCKING POSITION WHEN THE POST HAS REACHED CONTACT WITH THE PLATFORM. THE OPERATING MEANS MAY BE CONNECTED TO MEMBERS DESIGNED TO LOCK THE SIDEBOARDS TO THE POST.

Jan. 26, 1971 s. ROSEN 3,558,132

LOCKING MEANS FOR THE SIDEBOARDS OF A TRUCK'PLATFORM Filed Sept. 10,1968 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I FIG. 2 a w i.2i\ ,1- i 22\ 1 E 4 ,"i 232255112154}; l I 34 33 5 v I I j INVEMTJR. .G. RQSEM' 7/2144, paw; 1.

Jan. 26, 1971 RQSEN 3,558,182

LOCKING MEANS FOR THE SIDEBOARDS OF A TRUCK PI.|. \'1FORlVI Filed Sept.10, 196B '2 Sheets-Sheet i United States Patent US. Cl. 29636 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In order to detachably connect tubular poststo the edge portion of a truck platform the latter at appropriateportions in provided with vertically spaced straps and gudgeons,respectively. The post is, at its lower end, provided with a journalbody adapted to cooperate with the gudgeon, and when the post is placedthereon and swung towards the platform, the strap will enter an openingarranged in the side wall of the post intended to be turned towards theplatform. A vertically displaceable bolt is located in the post abovethe opening and is connected to operating means designed to bring thebolt into locking position when the post has reached contact with theplatform. The operating means may be connected to members designed tolock the sideboards to the post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION vThe present invention relates to detachabletubular posts adapted to support the sideboards of a truck platform -orthe like and of the type comprising an arm subjected to the action of aspring and being pivotably connected to a lever, the opposite end ofwhich is pivotably connected to a vertically displaceable bolt adaptedto engage a strap or the like at the platform.

Locking means adapted to detachably connect the posts which supportswingable sideboards of a truck platform are previously known. It has,however, proven difficult to release the posts when the boards aresubjected to heavy pressure from the load on the platform, and theobject of the present invention is provide meanswhereby"this'disadvantage may be avoided.

SUMMARY or- THE INVENTION and located inside the post and adapted tocooperate with a strap, which enters the post through an opening in theside wall thereof, the strap being provided with a part having the sameinclination towards the edge portion of the platform as the wedgeportion of the bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectionthrough the lower portion of a post according to the invention as fittedto the edge of a truck platform.

FIG. 2 shows a section along line 1111 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the upperportion of the post, and FIG. 4 shows a view, partly in section of theupper portion of the post as seen at right angles to FIG. 3.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT On the drawing 1 denotes aplatform proper, the edge portion of which is provided with a number ofvertical, outwardly open grooves 2, adapted to reecive the necessarynumber of posts 3, of which only one is shown on the drawing. The upperpart of each post is provided with means for detachable connection tothe sideboards of the platform, while the lower part of each post isprovided with means for the detachable connection thereof to theplatform, as well as with members for effecting the locking and thereleasing, respectively.

The post consists of a length of steel tubing of square or rectangularcross section and the illustrated post is intended to be used at anintermediate position, i.e. between two part-sideboards along thelongitudinal sides of the platform and is therefore provided with twinsets of locking elements.

The maneuvering member for each set comprises an arm 13- which along amajor portion of its length, has an U-shaped crosssection and at its oneend, by means of a pin 14, is pivotably connected to the lower end of arod 16, slidable within the post and subjected to the action of a spring20. At a distance from the pin 14, the arm 13, by means of a further pin21, is pivotably connected to twin levers 22. The lower ends of levers22 are, by means of a third pin 23, pivotably connected to a bolt 24,which is axially displaceable within the post. The bolt has one planside adapted to slide along the rear side wall of the post, and afurther side arranged at an angle to the first mentioned side in such amanner that a wedge shaped body is obtained.

Two straps 31 are arranged within each groove 2 in the platform in sucha manner that they will each enter an opening 32 in the side wall of thepost ,turned towards the platform just immediately below the lower edgeof the the bolt 24 in the appropriate set, when the bolt is brought intoits elevated position. In order to present a simpler View of this partthe bolt and the lever are removed in the right hand part, of FIG. 2.

Contrary to previous designs, where the post is mounted in a hook-likedevice, the post 3 of the present design at its lower portion issupported by a member designed as a journal body 33, which cooperateswith a gudgeon 34 mounted within each groove 2 at the platform. The post3 is thus swingable about the gudgeon and may be brought to alignmentwith the edge portion of the platform, as shown in FIG. 1. During theswinging movement, the straps 31 will enter the openings 32, and whenthe arms are brought downwards, the bolts will be pushed downwards intothe straps 31. The oblique side of each bolt 24 is arranged in lockingpositoin to occupy an angle of 12-15 towards the vertical plane. Anangle of 14 has proven especially suitable, partly because it will bepossible to easily withdraw the bolt, and partly because such a wedgeinterlocks the parts with sufficient force to prevent rattling.

The portion of the strap 31 cooperating with the bolt 24 is designedwith essentially the same inclination as the wedge surface of thelatter. The bolt 24 is furthermore provided with guiding means 35 in theform of a cross peg, which is adapted to cooperate with a guideway 36mounted within the post 3. Hence, the bolt 24 is governed in arectilinear path during its displacement, which prevents the bolt frombeing swung outwards when the arm 13 is swung upwards.

The posts serve to support sideboards which are swingably mounted alongthe sides of the platform and which, in the raised position, may beconnected to the posts by means of clasps of arbitrary known design. Forthe present embodiment, these clasps are mounted Within the post and areoperated by means of the same lever as is used for bringing the boltinto and out of the locking position.

As the post illustrated is intended to be used between two separateportions of the side board, two sets of looking elements which areoperable independently of each other must be provided. The posts at theends of the platform and posts where the sideboards are locked withordinary independently operated clasps are provided with one bolt andone lever only.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each rod 1 6 at its upper end, by means of abolt 17, is connected to two links 18. These are pivotably connected toa locking member which is pivotable about a gudgeon 7.

The locking members are crescent shaped and each adapted to enter acorrespondingly shaped recess 8 in the edge of sideboard 4, runningparallel to the post.

When the maneuvering lever 13 is brought to the vertical position shownin full lines in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bolt 24 and the locking member 5 arein engaged positions. When the lever is lifted to an intermediateposition, denoted 13a in FIG. 1, the locking member 5 is swung inwards,thereby releasing the side board. The bolt 24, however, remains in itslocking position and is not lifted until the lever is brought into theposition denoted by 1312.

What I claim is:

1. Means forr detachably connecting a tubular post t0 the load carryingplatform of a truck or the like, includa strap and a horizontal gudgeonarranged vertically therebelow at the appropriate portion of theplatform,

a hollow tubular post having at least one plane side wall to turntowards the platform,

a journal body at the lower end of the post for cooperation with thegudgeon,

said journal body being mounted for Operation about a horizontal axisand provided with a substantially semicylindrical downwardly openbearing surface,

said plane side wall having an opening located a distance above thejournal body corresponding to the distance between the gudgeon and thestrap,

a wedge shaped bolt mounted within the post above the opening, andoperating means connected to the bolt and operative to displace the boltvertically across the opening to engage the strap which may be broughtto enter the post through the opening when the post, resting upon thegudgeon, is swung towards the platform, the location of said gudgeon andsaid journal body being such as to bring said at least One side wallinto contact with the platform in the fully swung-in position.

2. Means for detachably connecting a tubular post to the load carryingplatform of a truck or the like, includa strap and a gudgeon arrangedvertically therebelow at the appropriate portion of the platform,

a hollow tubular post having at least one plane side wall to turntowards the platform,

a journal body at the lower end of the post for cooperation with thegudgeon,

4 said plane side wall having an opening located a distance above thejournal body corresponding to the distance between the gudgeon and thestrap,

a wedge shaped bolt mounted within the post above the opening,

operating means connected to the bolt and operative to displace the boltvertically across the opening to engage the strap which may be broughtto enter the post through the opening when the post, resting upon thegudgeon, is swung towards the platform, and

part of the strap directly cooperating with the wedge being designedwith same angle of inclination as the wedge, said angle being 1215,preferably 14, in relation to the vertical plane.

3. Means for detachably connecting a tubular post to the load carryingplatform of a truck or the like, includa strap and a gudgeon arrangedvertically therebelow at the appropriate portion of the platform,

a hollow tubular post having at least one plane side wall to turntowards the platform,

a journal body at the lower end of the post for cooperation with thegudgeon,

said plane side wall having an opening located a distance above thejournal body corresponding to the distance between the gudgeon and thestrap,

a wedge shaped bolt mounted within the post above the opening,

operating means connected to the bolt and operative to displace the boltvertically across the opening to engage the strap which may be broughtto enter the post through the opening when the post, resting upon thegudgeon, is swung towards the platform, and

the bolt being provided with guide means adapted to cooperate with fixedguideways in the post adapted to direct the bolt into a rectilinearmovement.

4. Connecting means for a post located between two sideboards arrangedin line on a load and platform cooperable with locking members at thepost adapted to be operated by a bolt o erating means at the post, inwhich the post is provided with independently operated bolts forengaging each side board straps arranged in parallel being provided atthe platform locking means at said post associated with each strap andindependently operable mechanisms, for selectively operating one of saidbolts and said locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,324 9/1888 Schmucker 296362,107,612 2/1938 Karlge 382 2,164,586 7/1939 McBride 105384 BENJAMINHERSH, Primary Examiner I. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.'R.105-3 82

